Unlocking Girls’ Potential in Uganda: A Dream Come True: GFC Uganda Part...

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TEACHERS REVIEW GOOD SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

 Following the training of the champion teachers on good school environment in June 2019, recently 16 teachers and 5 partners held a review meeting on of the current good school project activities on 17^th Thursday, October 2019. The Executive Director RIC-NET, the Karambi sub county chief, the head teacher Kisolholho Primary School, Kyabayenze Primary School, Kathembo Primary School and Karambi Secondary School made remarks about creating safe school environment to prevent violence against children.

Sub County Chief Karambi addressing the champion teachers and partners

 Each school champion teacher presented to the team reports on specific activities conducted since June to mid October 2019. Kathembo Primary School reported that:  school rules and regulations had been revised, girls washroom equipped with sanitary towels,  procured more talking  compound signets, conducted in house training of teachers by the champion teachers, conducted sensitization meeting  of children about VAC on assemblies  and during debates about VAC. The female teachers have held meetings with the girls about VAC awareness .teachers now use the logbook to record alternative ways of dealing with cases like late coming, fighting and many more. Karambi secondary school reported that school is in process of revising the school regulations; students have conducted debates and drama on prevention and response to VAC.

John Silco ED RIC-NET sharing with teachers issues of Safe School Environment

Teachers Sharing

 Kyabayenze Primary school reported that the champion teachers have sensitized other teachers about VAC and Alternative punishment, conducted debates and drama about prevention VAC. Kisolholho Primary School reported that in additional to others mentioned above, they held classroom discussions about VAC in all classes, and  among the teachers and with the  parents during the parents general meeting. The school rules and regulations displayed the talking compound signets and conducted pupil’s drama, discussions and debates to raise awareness on VAC.

The schools main challenges were the inadequate size of the school classrooms to enable mass sensitization and joint classes’ debates during the rainy seasons, insufficient latrines where 118 pupils share one latrine, insufficient classrooms and furniture where 106 pupils share one class and inadequate sanitary towels, which leads to low attendance of the girls and so low performance.  

The Executive Director RIC-NET reminded the members about components  good school environment that comprises of activities focusing on prevention of VAC  through child to child activities (Debates, drama and discussions) , improving school structures,  and focusing on alternative methods of discipline from teachers and then bringing in parents through General Parents Teachers Meetings. The  sub county Chief told the teachers about the seven strategies for ending violence in Uganda in a package of INSPIRE which stands for Implementation And Enforcement of Laws, Norms and Values, Safe Environment, Parents and Caregivers Support, Income and Economic Strengthening, Response and Support Services,  and Education.

The teachers decided formulate drama and debate themes around prevention of violence in schools and competitive among pupils through inter-class debates and prizes to be won provided by RIC-NET. RIC-NET will continue facilitating PTA and management meetings by providing lunch, flip charts, mark pens and a facilitator to sensitize parents about preventing VAC in schools and family. The teachers will use second logbooks to schools to record the minutes about the teaching of VAC to other teachers and the children, a box of sanitary towels to each school every term and the pupils will be trained on how to make the sanitary towels at schools.

Commemoration of the international day of the girl child.

As the world joins to celebrate the girl child day, Network For Girl child and civic Empowerment (NECE)   organized  a  colorful  function at Booma grounds, Kasese  municipality on 18^th October 2019   with a global theme “Empowering girls for a bright future”-unscripted and unstoppable” while as Kasese theme was “skilling girl child for sustainable development”. The function commenced with an entertaining musical band with an aim to remind the people around Kasese town about what is taking place. Pupils of Kisholholho Primary school support by RIC-NEt under the prevention of VAC project supported by CRVP-F presented a drama that left the those present amazed and informed of violence against Children Consequences.

The function was graced with very many guests such as Non government organizations such as Rwenzori Information Centers Network (RIC-NET), political leaders, parents, religious leaders, schools, teachers and other well wishers of the day.

The chief guest of honour, Mrs Biirah Loice Bwambale thanked all people that had turned up in their respective capacities to join the world to celebrate the day, she argued all girls to embrass all the opportunities that come their way especially in the struggle to end violation to their human rights.

On behalf the girls present ,Kabugho Christine a young mother and ,a fresh graduate from Agape of hope institute thanked  all stake holders,teachers,parents,organizations and others  for the work done to the girl child in Rwenzori region. At the end of the celebrations, all the girls and women turned back to their homes and schools feeling loved, motivated and inspired for there is hope for a better tomorrow for the girl child.

Parents Hands on skill training for Kyabikere Thukolere Haghuma and Kathembo Thuyilolere women SACO

A good number of people both men and women have no idea about vocational work in life.  This has lowered their personal income and has affected their standards of living in life.  So, there is a need to train and equip them with general knowledge and skills to empower them in their lives. 

This was so on 1th October 2019 when RIC-NET decided to conduct skills training for CBOS areas of kitholu sub county mainly targeting groups of Kyabikere Thukolera Haghuma and Kathembo Thuyilolere saving and credit group  that are participating in prevention of violence against children project. 

The trainings took place at Kyabikere primary school and All saints kanyatsi church of Uganda respectively

 Dolis, appreciated RIC-NET for such great opportunity, encouraged all members to embrace the chance, and use it profitably. 

 On behalf of the members, she ensured the trainers that they will work hand in hand to weave more baskets after the training, they also promised to use their saving group to get capital to buy more rolls (materials) so that they can continue with making baskets so that they earn income hence improving their standards of living.

The women later went to the market while carrying their baskets to buy food since it was a market day, they were excited and showing off to other women who were not members of these groups

ST MARIA GORETTI WOMEN’S GROUP TRAIN IN BASKET MAKING (CARRIONS)

 Most women are held home by their husbands and not allowed to work because they are supposed to stay home and take care of their children. These women do not have any skills that can keep them busy at home and also earn them some money while at home. Lack of source of income is cause for unbalanced spouse relations and thus a cause of violence to the children.

to over come this challenge, on 26^th August 2019 RIC-NET trained the women members of St Maria Goretti women’s group in kisolholho village Karambi Sub County on how to make baskets (carrions). This is done to empower women through skills training to enable them to start up their own small businesses and earn income hence improving their standards of living.

According to Mrs.Zeresi Baguma a member of this group said they were very happy about this idea because they are learning new skills that they will use for generations to earn income. The trainer  hired by RIC-NET  gave a theoratical sessions before embarking on the practicals where every woman followed suit step by step and after some time they were weaving on their own with supervision from the trainer. 

The chairperson  of the group thanked RICNET for always considering them when such opportunities come up and encouraged RICNET to come more often because the people of Kisolholho are quick learners and ready to adopt anything productive that comes up.

The women were excited and left with the carrions they had made to go and show their husbands what they have been doing the whole day.